General Certificate of Secondary Education

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how the extra £40 million resources for education authorities for books for the general certificate of secondary education has been allocated; and if he will make a statement.

The Government are supporting £40 million expenditure on books and equipment for the GCSE over three years. £20 million is being made available this year: £15 million is being supported through education support grant and the other £5 million is a grant for the provision of scientific and technological equipment made available by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Employment in conjunction with the Manpower Services Commission. A further £20 million at least is being set aside for books and equipment through education support grant over the next two financial years.

To secure an equitable distribution of the amount available through ESG for books and equipment a ceiling on the amount of expenditure has been set for each authority. These allocations have been calculated on the basis of 75 per cent. according to the relevant school population and 25 per cent. according to the number of maintained secondary schools. The £5 million available through the MSC for equipment has been allocated on the
947W
basis of 50 per cent. according to relevant school population and 50 per cent. according to the number of maintained secondary schools.